prepositions

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Prepositions are some of the most common words.

Click the blue words to see all their meanings, with sentences, and pronunciation.

All these words can be used as prepositions. Most can be used in other ways also.

After you learn these words, you will notice them in most sentences. They help you divide a sentence into pieces which are easier to understand.

The translate button will translate the right column, and leave the left column alone, so you can see English and your own language at the same time.

TIME
after After Monday comes Tuesday.
before Before Thursday, we will decide.
during During meals, we laugh.
since Since Friday we have had good business.
until Until the customer leaves, we help her.

RELATION
as As a waiter, you listen carefully.
besides Besides cooks, we need waiters.
despite Despite poverty, I succeed.
except Except Monday, we are open all week.
for For you, we have a great shirt.
like Like many people, I enjoy fruit.
of Of all my family, she is the oldest.
per Per hour, we use a lot of electricity.
unlike Unlike you, I enjoy farming.
versus Ghana versus India was a good game.
with With friendly staff, our business is growing.
without Without cleaning, the store gets dirty.

PLACE+RELATION
about About that subject I know nothing.
against Against the wall, we will put new shelves.
by By this road, you will arrive soon.
from From the park, you can see the store.

PLACE/VERTICAL
above Above this floor, you will find storage.
below Below this hill is a river.
beneath Beneath this hill is a large copper mine.
down Down a hill, trucks go faster.
on On a branch, a bird sits.
onto Onto a branch, a bird flies.
over Over the table we put a cloth.
under Under this hill is a cave.
underneath Underneath the ceiling is the floor.
up Up the hill, roads are smaller.
upon Upon the table, we put fancy products.

PLACE/NEAR
along Along the wall are tables.
around / round Around the table are chairs.
at At the restaurant door, I will wait for you.
behind Behind you, I see a bicycle.
beside Beside you, I look small.
near Near the store traffic is noisy.

PLACE/CONTAIN
aboard Aboard the train, there are many people.
amid Amid the crowd, I see friends.
among / amongst Among 3 or more trees, you can hide.
between Between 2 trees, there is no room to hide.
in In a tree, birds sing.
inside Inside a tree cells grow.
into Into this bag I will put your purchases.
outside Outside the store it is hot.
through Through the park there is only one road.
throughout Throughout the park there are many trees.
within Within these walls, everyone is friendly.

PLACE/BYPASSING
across Across the room is a tall bookshelf.
beyond Beyond the park are stores.
off Off the desert a hot wind blows.
opposite Opposite you is a chair for me.
past Past the store is my house.
to To the Amazon is a long way.
toward / towards Toward the East, it gets colder.
via Via the main road you can reach every town.

The groups above are approximate, because these words have several meanings.

Compare at, in, on, to.
Compare during, for, and for, since.
Compare among, between.
Compare beside, by, near.
Compare above, over.
Compare below, beneath, under, underneath.

Verbs with ing at the end can act like prepositions. There are thousands of these participle phrases, like:

Barring accidents, I can finish today.
Considering past success, I am hopeful.
Pending your approval, I can prepare payment.
Washing dishes, I can earn some money.

Phrases with preposition - noun - preposition, or as - adjective - as, are also common:

With regard to your house, I do not know when it was built.
For the sake of peace, we will compromise.
As far as London, we know the road.
As well as health, we want happiness.